A high-efficiency particle analysis method includes the following steps: taking representative air-dried samples and measuring a moisture content; boiling, sieving, weighing and adding a dispersant; conducting a particle analysis test; reading four readings of 1.sup.st to 59.sup.th and 60.sup.th to 90.sup.th samples; and drawing a particle size distribution curve showing the relationship between the particle size and the percentage of below a certain diameter. According to the method, a time difference is used to change the measurement mode, and the four readings of the 59.sup.th and 90.sup.th samples are read in a cycling manner; and a novel test method is provided on the premise of ensuring quality, thus greatly improving the efficiency of a particle analysis test and meeting production requirements.

In one embodiment, a sampling device includes: an elongated tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior enclosed at a top longitudinal end and a bottom longitudinal end of the body and a particulate matter. One or more mesh bags are disposed in the interior of the body and configured to contain the particulate matter inside a first mesh bag. The first mesh bag is an innermost mesh bag contained inside one or more outer mesh bags in a nested configuration when two or more mesh bags are disposed in the interior of the body. The body includes a plurality of body openings or one half lateral side of the body and no body openings on an opposite half lateral side of the body.

In one embodiment, a sampling device includes: an elongated tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior enclosed at a top longitudinal end and a bottom longitudinal end of the body and a particulate matter. One or more mesh bags are disposed in the interior of the body and configured to contain the particulate matter inside a first mesh bag. The first mesh bag is an innermost mesh bag contained inside one or more outer mesh bags in a nested configuration when two or more mesh bags are disposed in the interior of the body. The body includes a plurality of body openings or one half lateral side of the body and no body openings on an opposite half lateral side of the body.

A system for monitoring fruit growth including: a vibration exciter that imparts predetermined vibration to a stem or a branch between a fruit and a stalk growing on a plant; a vibration sensor that detects vibration of the stem or the branch caused by the vibration imparted by the vibration exciter; and a detector that detects a weight or weight change of the fruit based on a frequency of the vibration detected by the vibration sensor.

A system for monitoring fruit growth including: a vibration exciter that imparts predetermined vibration to a stem or a branch between a fruit and a stalk growing on a plant; a vibration sensor that detects vibration of the stem or the branch caused by the vibration imparted by the vibration exciter; and a detector that detects a weight or weight change of the fruit based on a frequency of the vibration detected by the vibration sensor.

The invention provides apparatus and methods for determining the isotope ratio of a sample. The apparatus comprises a dynamically heated chamber (1); a reactor (4), wherein an outlet of the dynamically heated chamber is coupled to a reactor inlet; an isotope ratio spectrometer (6), wherein an outlet of the reactor is coupled to a spectrometer inlet; such that a gas flow path is provided from the dynamically heated chamber to the isotope ratio spectrometer; wherein the apparatus includes at least one selective gas trap (3,5) in the gas flow path, the gas trap being configured to selectively and reversibly trap one or more gases present in the gas flow in use.

A method and apparatus for inspection of liquids are disclosed. The method includes inspecting a liquid with a technique selected according to whether the package of the liquid is transparent, semi-transparent or opaque. If the package is transparent or semi-transparent, a Raman spectra technique is used; if the package is opaque, a technique using an electronic scale and a barcode reader is used. In some embodiments, the Raman spectra technique and the technique using barcode reader and electronic scale can be used independently for inspection of the liquid. The inspection apparatus according to the present disclosure has advantages, such as capability of material identification, rapid examination speed, small volume, light weight, portability, low cost, freedom from radiation, and simple maintenance. The method and apparatus according to the present disclosure are suitable for safety inspection in public places having a large number, and fast flow, of people.

A method and apparatus for inspection of liquids are disclosed. The method includes inspecting a liquid with a technique selected according to whether the package of the liquid is transparent, semi-transparent or opaque. If the package is transparent or semi-transparent, a Raman spectra technique is used; if the package is opaque, a technique using an electronic scale and a barcode reader is used. In some embodiments, the Raman spectra technique and the technique using barcode reader and electronic scale can be used independently for inspection of the liquid. The inspection apparatus according to the present disclosure has advantages, such as capability of material identification, rapid examination speed, small volume, light weight, portability, low cost, freedom from radiation, and simple maintenance. The method and apparatus according to the present disclosure are suitable for safety inspection in public places having a large number, and fast flow, of people.

The present invention is a computer implemented method of design a roof, the method comprising: mapping, a roof layout of a structure; identifying, a set of features of the roof layout, wherein the set of features identifies the slope and intersection of the surfaces of the roof layout; applying, a plurality of trusses over the roof layout in a predetermined orientation; generating, a profile of each of the plurality of trusses, wherein the profile is generated through the combination of the identified set of features of the roof layout and the orientation of the trusses; calculating, a weight of the roof layout based on the total weight of the trusses; and calculating, a difficulty rating of the roof layout.

A prediction of type 2 diabetes development through quantitative analysis of N-glycans attached to the plasma proteins of a healthy person, which enables determination of whether the investigated person belongs to a risk group for type 2 diabetes development in the future. Using obtained quantitative percentages of all analyzed N-glycans as input variables of a model F: F(GP1, GP2, . . . , GPX; D, S), where X, D and S are parameters of the model F: X=total number of analyzed N-glycans; D=age of the investigated person; S=sex of the investigated person; male=1, female=0. Obtaining constants of the model F (GP1, GP2, . . . , GPX; D, S) by statistical data processing and modelling from analyzed population. Comparing obtained result F for the investigated person with a statistically determined threshold T, which defines the threshold of increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) development in the future.